Device for tightening wood barking drums



Dec. 21,1943.

R. D. NEWTON I r 2,337,404,

DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING WOOD BARKING DRUMS Filed Nov. 12, 1940 2206M D.fi/ewzop 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Dec. 21, 1943. R. D. NEWTON 2,337,404

DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING WOOD BARKING' DRUMS V 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 PatentedDec. 21, 1943 f UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlqE v DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING WOODBARKIN DRUMS Robert D. Newton, Moss Point, Miss. Application November12, 1940, Serial No. 365,334

2 Claims. (01. 144-208) I normally imposed upon the channel securing Thepresent invention relates to apparatusthat is adapted to remove the barkfrom logs, and more particularly has reference to a wood barking drumthat is provided with means whereby the drum can be tightened. While myinventive concept finds particular application in connection with woodbarking drums, I wish it to be understood, however', that it can beemployed to tighten other types of apparatus in which the longitudinalchannel bars forming the circumference of the-apparatus may betightened.

At the present time wood barking drums comprise channel bars or V ironsthat form the circumference of the drum, and these irons are secured toa plurality of rings by means of bolts or rivets, etc. The initial costof a wood barking drum isvery high and, in addition, the cost of'theupkeep of these drums is a verymaterial item. In operation, due to therough usage to which the drums are put, a tremendous strain is imposedon'the rivet or bolt heads, and the vibration of the channel bars hascaused-loosening or breakage of the rivets or bolts with the attendantdisadvantages. Of course, many attempts have been heretofore made toprovide same means whereby rivet and bolt breakage could be obviated,but to the'best'of my knowledge no feasible practice has been proposed.

One object of this'invention is to overcome the defects now in the art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tightening device forwood barking drums of either the channel or V iron type that is simplein construction and operation, and that can easily be repaired orreplaced.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tightening devicethat will cause the channel or V irons to be brought into closecontactwith the supporting rings, thus holding the channel or V ironsrigidly inthe proper position,

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a tightening devicefor wood barking drums of the type herein described that will elim-,inate the vibration of the channel or V irons,v thereby preventingloosening or breakage of the members.

In the drawings, in which like numerals designate the same or similarparts:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of a wood barkingdrum of the channel iron type showing my novel tightening unit inposition.

Figure 2 is a fragmental top plan view illustrating the constructionshown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of a wood barkingdrum of the V iron type showing my novel tightening unit.

Figure 4 is a fragmental top plan view of the unit illustrated in Figure3.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, Ihave shown a wood as shown at 9.

rivets or bolts securing the irons to their supporting rings. K

- I prefer that the body portion l barking drum I, the outercircumference of which comprises a plurality of longitudinal channelirons 2, each of which is spaced longitudinally from the other to definea longitudinal space or slot 3 through which the pieces of bark removedfrom the logs may be discharged. Each.

channel iron is adapted to be secured to iron rings 4 spaced at properdistances along the length of the drum, one of which is illustrated inthe drawings. As best shown in Figure 2, each channel 2 is secured tothe ring 4 by means of a saddle 5. The saddle 5 is bolted to the flangeof the ring 4, as indicated at 5, andto the channel 2, as shown at 1.Obviously other modes of attachment for aifixing the channels to therings can be employed in lieu of that herein described.

To impart rotary movement to the drum, aring gear 8 is provided and thechannels can also be secured to this gearby means of a saddle suchpinion (not shown)" which is driven by a suitable prime mover (notshown).

As previously pointed out, a great strain is imposed upon the securingmeans 5 during the operation of the drum I with the result that thesecuring-means, due to the vibration of the channels 2, becomes loosenedor broken. This loosening or breaking of the securing devices oftenresults in the impairment of the channels 2, and it has been a realproblem in the art to try and ofiset this objectionable feature ofapparatus of this type.

After considerable work in'the field,- I discovered that the channelirons could be maintained in a rigid position and notbecome loosened bydisposing a wedge member ID in the slot 3 between the flanges H ofadjoining channels adjacent to-the ring 4. The wedge l0 comprises a bodyportion l2 Which-tapers from .top to bottom and which is formed with abore 13. 2 be of steel although other materials, such as cast iron orThe ring gear meshes with a the like, may be used. A bolt ll extendsthrough .the bore l3 and a washer I5 is disposed between adjoiningchannel irons 2 and the bolt head. The

washer has a countersunk portion |6 into the 10 side the channel or Viron to'compensate for.

The wedges I II are located at the positions which are subjected to themost strain and, as mentioned, they are located adjacent the supportingrings 4, since it has been found that considerable strain and stress isplaced at-these positions.

In practice the wedges are positioned around the entire circumference ofthe drum before the bolts II are tightened. Obviously when the-bolts aretightened, the tendency is to spreadthe space 3 between adjoiningchannels 2, but the wedges besidethe adjoining channels will preventthis and force the channels to move outward against the saddle 5. If thewedges were not installed in each space around the circumference of thedrum I, this spreading action would occur and the desired results wouldnot be achieved. ter each wedge is in position, the nut I8 is tightened,thus forcing the channels 2 outwardly against the rings 4 by expandingthe circumference of the circle ofthe channels 2. I .have also found itmost advantageous to tighten the bolts 14 the bolt 38 of each wedgemember the V bars ll effect the expansion of the circumference of thecircle of the V bars, thus causing the V bars to .be moved tightlyagainst the supporting rings In the event the wedges I0 and 35 are moveddown to the position where they contact the washers l5 or 38,respectively, they may be removed and a thin metal shim can be placedalongthe wear. I might mention, however, that this condition should notoccur except in cases of breakage or neglect as the channel and V ironsand the wedges form a solid adjustable circle of metal.

It is believed readily apparent from the above description tha Ihaveprovided a very effective means for main aining the longitudinalchannel or V bars forming the outer circumference of a wood barking drumin a rigid position against the supporting rings. By the use of my novelwedge construction it is, possible to prevent the belts or rivets frombecoming loosened or broken during operating conditions with the.attendant 5 saving in the upkeep of thedrum. The device is verysimple'in construction and can be used in connection with allchannelor-V iron type drums and can be installed with relative ease. Thedevice is positive in action and can be replaced or repaired in aminimum of time.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment ofmy,invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself tothe precise details of.construction herein set forth by way ofillustration, as it is apparent that many gradually, as thispreventdistortion of the breaking of rive'ts or bolts. 1

In Figures 3 and 4, I have shown my invention used in connection with abarking'drum 30, the outer circumference of which is formed oflongitudinally V'bars 3|. While the drawingsdo not illustratespecifically the mannerv in which the V bars are fixed to supportingrings 32, these bars can be attached in any desirable manner such as,for example, by rivets, bolts or the like.

- In Figure '4 it will be noted thata bracket 33 is welded to the upperfaceof the V bar 3| at a point adjacent to the supporting ring' 32. In

edge The flange portion-of members 33A and 33B tapers slightly from topto bottom which forms.

other words, the brackets 31 are disposed at the positions where thebarshre subjected to the greatest strain. The bracket 33 comprisescomchanges and variations'may be made therein, by those skilled in theart, provided they do not depart from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I v

1. A wood barking drum comprising a plurality of spaced axially alignedrings, a plurality of circumferentially spaced bars extendinglongitudinally of the drum within the rings, means connecting the barsto the rings, a plurality of radially of the drum, a washer on said boltand engaging the inner surface of said bars, said wedges and associatedbolts andwashers being spaced apart axially of the drum to maintainplementary'angle'irons 33A and 333,, each oneof which is secured alongthe free longitudinal of adjacent V bars.

in effect, a tapered slot 34. v I

A tapered wedge 35 similar in construction to the wedge l0 shown inEigure 1 is disposed in the slot 34. A bolt 36 is positioned in a bore31 formed in the wedge and a washer 38 is disposed between the bolt headand the lower wall of the adjoining V bars. A nut 39 is threaded on tothe upper free end of the bolt. I

v The operation of this particular embodiment is thought readilyapparent, and by tightening gagement with t e rings.

open the spaces between the bars and a nut on each bolt for drawing thewedgestoward the washers to force said wedges between said bars 1 tospread the bars circumferentially and force them radially outwardly intoengagement with the rings.

2. A wood barking drum comprisinga plurality of spaced axially alignedrings, a plurality of circumferentially spaced barsextendinglongltudinally of the drum "within the rings, means connectingthe bars to the rings, a plurality of wedges interposed between adjacentbars, anchors bridging the spaces between adjacent bars and lying incontact with one face of the bars, said 5 v wedges and associatedanchors being spaced apart axially of the'drurn to maintain the spacesopen between the bars and ad.) 'lstable means cooperating with theanchors and wedges for forcing the wedges bftween the adjacent barstoward the anchors ending to spread the bars ,apart and forcing themradially outwardly into tight en- ROBERT D. NEWTON.

wedges interposed between adjacent bars, a boltextending through eachwedge substantially;

